Yumna Moosa

The South African Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF), The Association of Surgeons of South Africa (ASSA) and Surgicom have stated that they are concerned about the arrest of a Kwa-Zulu Natal surgeon who is charged with murder following the death of a patient. They say the matter is pending before the Health Professionals Counsel of South Africa (HPCSA). Forum CEO, Dr Simon Strachan, discussed the issue with Radio Islam on Tuesday. 

He says, “the case is not for discussion as it is still in the process of being adjudicated on. However, we must recognise that there is a patient who has unfortunately passed on, and a grieving doctor”. He highlights that no doctor intends to lose a patient. Still, if it does happen, there are avenues available where these happenings can be appropriately aired and interrogated for decisions to be made. In this case, he believes that there was no intent to prove whether the doctor was found to be accused of culpable homicide and murder. Culpable homicide would be defined as the unlawful killing of a person due to negligence. At the same time, murder is the unlawful killing with intent: Dr Strachan says these terms should have only been applied when there had been a clear airing of the entire case. 

Ending off, the forum CEO explains, “few surgeons in this country will be willing to continue practicing if they face the risk of arrest for murder following the unexpected death of a patient”.

Listen to the full interview on the Radio Islam Soundcloud